Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

PHOENIX (AP) - Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu spent more than $35,000 on specialty badges and customized coins in honor of Arizona's centennial as his department was heading toward a projected multimillion-dollar deficit.

Records obtained by The Arizona Republic show Babeu's office used anti-racketeering funds for the purchases. The sheriff spent $23,350 for 308 badges and $12,080 for 4,000 coins since September.

One of the authors of the state law allowing use of the seized money says the badge purchases follow acceptable standards. But the coins were bought to give out as awards and it is not as clear they're allowed.

Babeu wasn't available. Sheriff's spokesman Tim Gaffney says the budget will balance and the coin purchases were allowed.

Babeu is running in the Republican primary for Congress in Arizona's 4th District.